The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Jennings, a certified public accountant and financial planner, attempts to resolve much of the misunderstanding surrounding two important, complex governmental systems.

Jennings (Accounting Reports 2011, 2011) writes to explicate Social Security and Medicare as well as counter critics’ claims that these programs will run out of money and leave those who rely on them without the help the programs are designed to provide. While he clearly addresses the over-spending problems that these programs currently have and will have in the future, he also explains the basic machinations of the systems, everything from qualification requirements to how one can calculate his or her benefit amount to the four parts of Medicare to the improvements provided to Medicare by the 2010 Health Care Bill. Those who are eligible to receive money and health care from the government can easily apply Jennings’ teachings toward getting as much out of the programs as they possibly can. Jennings’ book is a simple, straightforward guide to these crucial systems—or as simple and straightforward as anything can be when systems as complex as these two are involved. He lays out the data people will need as well as the steps they will need to take in order to utilize the systems to the reader’s utmost advantage. In addition to giving facts, Jennings also provides specific real-world scenarios and illustrates how both Social Security and Medicare work in those circumstances. While readers may not find their exact scenario outlined in these pages, they can plug their personal data into one or more of the many scenarios provided so that they can dramatically see how the systems will work for them rather than simply reading about Social Security and Medicare’s potential impact on their lives. It’s clear that Jennings’ knowledge of these subjects is deeply rooted as he goes into detail about the minutiae of certain forms while also covering a wide range of related issues. His writing is clear, concise and makes sense of systems that can often be difficult to navigate on one’s own.

For readers who need to understand Social Security and Medicare in order to plan for the futures of themselves and their loved ones, this book is an easy to read yet detailed guide that will also serve as a reference for later.

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